Optical observation of shock waves and cavitation bubbles in high intensity laser-induced shock processes

We report an experimental study of the temporal and spatial dynamics of shock waves, cavitation bubbles, and sound waves generated in water during laser shock processing by single Nd:YAG laser pulses of nanosecond duration. A fast ICCD camera (2 ns gate time) was employed to record false schlieren photographs, schlieren photographs, and Mach-Zehnder interferograms of the zone surrounding the laser spot site on the target, an aluminum alloy sample. We recorded hemispherical shock fronts, cylindrical shock fronts, plane shock fronts, cavitation bubbles, and phase disturbance tracks.

Thoracoscopic plication for diaphragmatic eventration in a 3-month-old infant

A 3-month-old male presented with a 2-month history of intermittent shortness of breath with chest retractions and wheezing which worsened with feeding. The patient was diagnosed with bronchiolitis during one of several hospital admissions and treated with bronchodilators without success. On the third hospitalization, the patient was diagnosed with right-sided diaphragmatic eventration. Surgical intervention consisted of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with plication of the right diaphragm. The patient was discharged on the 2nd postoperative day. At the clinical visit 2 weeks postoperatively, the patient's respiratory symptoms as well as interrupted feeding secondary to shortness of breath had resolved. The chest X-ray revealed a significant improvement in the position of the right diaphragm. VATS with diaphragmatic plication is a viable approach for treating diaphragmatic eventration during infancy. To our knowledge, this 3-month-old male is the youngest patient reported to have undergone plication via VATS for diaphragmatic eventration.

Hippocampal interneurons co-express transcripts encoding the alpha7 nicotinic receptor subunit and the cannabinoid receptor 1

The notion of functional interactions between the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine (alpha7 nACh) and the cannabinoid systems is emerging from recent in vitro and in vivo studies. Both the alpha7 nACh receptor and the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) are highly expressed in the hippocampus. To begin addressing possible anatomical interactions between the alpha7 nACh and the cannabinoid systems in the rat hippocampus, we investigated the distribution of neurons expressing alpha7 nACh mRNA in relation to those containing CB1 mRNA. By in situ hybridization we found that the alpha7 nACh mRNA is diffusely expressed in principal neurons and is highly expressed in a subset of interneurons. We observed that the pattern of distribution of hippocampal interneurons co-expressing transcripts encoding alpha7 nACh and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD; synthesizing enzyme of GABA) closely resembles the one displayed by interneurons expressing CB1 mRNA. By double in situ hybridization we established that the majority of hippocampal interneurons expressing alpha7 nACh mRNA have high levels of CB1 mRNA. As CB1 interneurons contain cholecystokinin (CCK), we investigated the degree of cellular co-expression of alpha7 nACh mRNA and CCK, and found that the cellular co-existence of alpha7 nACh and CCK varies within the different layers of the hippocampus. In summary, we established that most of the hippocampal alpha7 nACh expressing interneurons are endowed with CB1 mRNA. We found that these alpha7 nACh/CB1 interneurons are the major subpopulation of hippocampal interneurons expressing CB1 mRNA. The alpha7 nACh expressing interneurons represent half of the detected population of CCK containing neurons in the hippocampus. Since it is well established that the vast majority of hippocampal interneurons expressing CB1 mRNA have 5-HT type 3 (5-HT3) receptors, we conclude that these hippocampal alpha7 nACh/5HT3/CB1/CCK interneurons correspond to those previously postulated to relay inputs from diverse cortical and subcortical regions about emotional, motivational, and physiological states.

Comparison of non-selective adrenocorticolysis with mitotane or trilostane for the treatment of dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

Forty-six dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism were treated with mitotane by the non-selective adrenocorticolysis protocol and 40 were treated twice a day with trilostane. The treatment groups were compared by chi-squared tests, and survival data were analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival plots and a Cox proportional hazard method. The non-selective adrenocorticolysis protocol was very effective (89 per cent), its toxicity was moderate (24 per cent) and there were fewer recurrences (29 per cent) than reported with the classical selective adrenocorticolysis protocol (58 per cent). In a multivariate model, age and bodyweight at diagnosis were significantly negatively correlated with survival time. The median survival time of the dogs treated with trilostane twice a day (900 days) was longer (P=0.05) than that of the dogs treated with mitotane (720 days).

Optical characterization of extremely small volumes of liquid in sub-micro-holes by simultaneous reflectivity, ellipsometry and spectrometry

We have fabricated and characterized a lattice of submicron cone-shaped holes on a SiO(2)/Si wafer. Reflectivity profiles as a function of angle of incidence and polarization, phase shift and spectrometry are obtained for several fluids with different refractive indexes filling the holes. The optical setup allows measuring in the center of a single hole and collecting all data simultaneously, which can be applied for measuring extremely low volumes of fluid (in the order of 0.1 femtolitres) and label-free immunoassays, as it works as a refractive index sensor. A three layer film stack model is defined to perform theoretical calculations.

Interrelation of growth media and water activity in sclerotia characteristics of Aspergillus section Flavi

AIMS

To examine sclerotium characteristics of two Aspergillus flavus and two A. parasiticus strains at different growth media and water stress.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The effects of growth media and water activity (0.999, 0.971, 0.955 and 0.937) on characteristics of sclerotia production (number, size and volume) of four isolates of Aspergillus section Flavi were examined. There was total inhibition under the driest conditions (0.955 and 0.937). When an osmotic potential of 0.971 was generated in Czapek agar (CD) and maize meal extract agar with sucrose and sodium nitrate (MMEA S/N), an increase in sclerotial size and volume was observed. The amount of sclerotia produced by cultures at 0.999 a(w) value was higher on CD.

CONCLUSIONS

The data show that the sclerotia characteristics of A. flavus and A. parasiticus have been influenced by water availability and growth media composition.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The information obtained shows that if we know the nutritional and water stress requirements for sclerotia production, it could be possible to develop effective prevention strategies to inhibit the survival of these fungi in grain.

[Avascular necrosis of the bone in patients with HIV infection: an emergent problem]

Since avascular necrosis of the bone was first described in a HIV infected patient in 1990, its incidence has increased, especially in recent years. The hip is most commonly involved and often bilaterally. We report a series of 5 cases of avascular necrosis of the bone in patients with HIV infection. Both hips were involved in 4 of the cases. All of them were receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment when avascular necrosis of the bone was diagnosed, and 4 of them presented at least one risk factor. The risk factors found in our series were: hyperlipidemia, use of corticosteroids and alcoholism. We cannot rule out antiretroviral treatment as a risk factor for avascular necrosis of the bone. Case-control studies published have not identified antiretroviral treatment as a risk factor probably due to small size of the samples.

High risk of bacterobilia in advanced experimental chronic fasciolosis

Fasciolosis is recognized as an important human disease. Wistar rats experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica were examined using data obtained in the advanced chronic state of the disease (200, 300 and 400 days post-infection, dpi). Pigment stones (PS) and bile specimens were collected. The same procedure was applied in control rats. Liver tests were determined using stored serum samples. Bacteriological bile culture revealed viable bacteria (Escherichia coli, 45% of cases, Enterococcus faecalis, 45% and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 10%). The presence of bacterobilia was associated with liver serum enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and total bilirubin levels. Multivariate analysis suggested an association between bacterobilia and the following factors: duration of parasitic infection and intensity of parasitic infection supported the impression that the obstruction caused by advanced chronic fasciolosis in the rat may be related to biliary sepsis. Extrapolation to human infection in fasciolosis hyperendemic areas is discussed. In conclusion, the results of the rodent model should lead to a reconsideration of treatment features in human disease, i.e. therapeutic strategies should not only include a parasitic treatment but also consider the possibility of bacterial co-infection.

Seroprevalence of canine heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) on Tenerife Island: an epidemiological update

Blood samples from 823 dogs were tested for circulating Dirofilaria immitis antigen during a 1-year period (May 2002 to May 2003) on Tenerife Island, Canary Islands, Spain. Seroprevalence of heartworm infection was 21%. Heartworm infection was similar in males and females and was more common in dogs aged >6 years. Distribution of infection in varying climatic zones was not statistically different.

Randomized open label phase II study of pegilated liposomal doxorubicine (PLD) four or six-week scheduled in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients (p)

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Background: PLD has the advantage of delivering the active anthracycline directly to the tumour site, provide comparable efficacy to conventional doxorubicin with a more favourable toxicity profile and significantly less cardiotoxicity. The most frequent dosing schedule is 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks. Recent studies have shown that PLD 60 mg/m2 every 6 weeks is an active and well tolerated treatment, and could be more convenient for the p. The primary objective was to evaluate response rate in six- and four-week schedule (arms A and B). Secondary objective was toxicity profile. Methods: P histologically confirmed of MBC, age 18–75 years old, ECOG PS ≤ 2, at least one measurable lesion and adequate bone marrow, renal, hepatic and cardiac function, were eligible. Prior chemotherapy with anthracyclines for MBC or adjuvant anthracycline-based regimen in the previous 12 months was not allowed. P were randomly assigned to receive PLD 60 mg/m2 i.v. in 1 hour every 6 weeks (arm A) or PLD 50 mg/m2 i.v. in 1 hour every 4 weeks (arm B). Results: Ten p have been included in the interim analysis over 11 enrolled, with median age of 50 years, ECOG PS 0–1 70% and stage IV 50%. Median time from diagnosis of metastatic disease was 9.2 months. Histology: 80% of p had ductal carcinoma, 10% lobular and 10% undifferentiated. Main tumour locations were lung (60%), liver (60%) and bone (40%). Two p had positive hormonal receptor status in arm A and 4 in arm B. Previous treatment included chemotherapy (80%), hormonotherapy (80%) and radiotherapy (40%). Up to date, a total of 15/17 cycles (median 3/3, range 1–6/1–5) were administered. Absolute dose intensity was 2.2 mg/day in arm A and 3.0 mg/day in arm B. Two p were not evaluated and over 8 evaluable p for efficacy (4 A and 4 B), 2 achieved partial response in arm A and 1 in arm B. Median time to progression was 168 days in arm A and 104 in arm B. The only grade III/IV toxicity was mucositis and stomatitis in 4 p. The most common grade I/II toxicities were palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (5p), anorexia (4p) and alopecia (4p). Conclusions: PLD at 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks and 60 mg/m2 every 6 weeks are effective and well tolerated regimens in MBC p. The most relevant adverse events were mucositis and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Glutamate-dependent translational regulation in cultured Bergmann glia cells: involvement of p70S6K

Glutamate, the main excitatory amino acid transmitter in the vertebrate brain is involved in the dynamic changes in protein repertoire that underlie synaptic plasticity. Activity-dependent differential expression patterns occur not only in neurons but also in glial cells. In fact, a membrane to nuclei signaling has been described after ionotropic glutamate receptor stimulation in cultured chick cerebellar Bergmann glia cells. In order to characterize other levels of protein expression regulation, we explored the effect of glutamate treatment in [35S]-methionine incorporation into newly synthesized polypeptides. A time-dependent modification in protein synthesis was found. An important component of translational control is the ribosomal S6 protein kinase. Threonine phosphorylation renders the kinase active increasing translation initiation. Glutamate exposure results in ribosomal S6 protein kinase Thr389 phosphorylation in a dose and time-dependent manner that matches perfectly with the overall protein synthesis profile detected upon the excitatory amino acid. Pharmacological characterization of the receptors involved suggests the participation of both ionotropic as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors. The non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase B and the mammalian target of rapamycin are mediators of the glutamate effect. These results not only demonstrate that glutamate receptors activation is critically involved in translational control in glial cells adjacent to synaptic processes like cerebellar Bergmann glia cells, but also further strengthen the notion of an active participation of glial cells in synaptic transmission.

A molecular epidemiological study of rabies in Cuba

To investigate the emergence and current situation of terrestrial rabies in Cuba, a collection of rabies virus specimens was employed for genetic characterization. These data supported the monophyletic nature of all terrestrial rabies viruses presently circulating in Cuba but additionally delineated several distinct variants exhibiting limited spatial distribution which may reflect the history of rabies spread on the island. The strain of rabies currently circulating in Cuba, which emerged on the island in the early 20th century, has very close evolutionary ties to the Mexican dog type and is a member of the cosmopolitan lineage widely distributed during the colonial period. The Cuban rabies viruses, which circulate predominantly within the mongoose population, are phylogenetically distant from viruses circulating in mongooses in other parts of the world. These studies illustrate, at a global level, the adaptation of multiple strains of rabies to mongoose species which should be regarded as important wildlife hosts for rabies re-emergence. Given the recent emergence of human cases due to bat contact in Cuba, this study also included a single insectivorous bat specimen which was found to most closely resemble the rabies viruses known to circulate in Mexican vampire bats.

Tracking of overweight status from childhood to young adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study

OBJECTIVE

To understand tracking of overweight status from childhood to young adulthood in a biracial sample.

DESIGN

A longitudinal sample was created from cross-sectional surveys at two time points, childhood (baseline) and young adulthood (follow-up).

SETTING

Bogalusa Heart Study, Louisiana, United States of America.

SUBJECTS

A total of 841 young adults, 19-35 years (68% Euro-Americans (EA), 32% African-Americans (AA)) were studied. The same subjects had also participated in one of the five cross-sectional surveys at childhood (9-11 years).

METHODS

Body mass index (BMI) was used to determine overweight status as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. Change in the BMI status from childhood to young adulthood was used to group the participants into the following categories: normal weight to normal weight (NW-NW); normal weight to overweight (NW-OW); overweight to normal weight (OW-NW); and overweight to overweight (OW-OW). Tracking of overweight was defined by (1) correlations between baseline and follow-up BMI, (2) Cohen's kappa concordance test to determine the strength of tracking in BMI quartiles and (3) the percentage of individuals who remained in the same overweight status group from baseline to follow-up.

RESULTS

From baseline to follow-up, the percentage of participants who were overweight increased from 24.7 to 57.7%. A total of 35.2% of the children shifted from normal weight in childhood to overweight in young adulthood (P < 0.0005). Baseline BMI was positively correlated with follow-up BMI (r = 0.66, P < 0.0005). A total of 61.9% of the participants in the highest BMI quartile in childhood remained in the highest BMI quartile in young adulthood. The strength of tracking in BMI quartiles was 27% for EA men (P < 0.0005), 23% for EA women (P < 0.0005), 27% for AA men (P<0.0005) and 35% for AA women (P < 0.0005). A total of 53.7% of the EA women remained in the NW-NW category and 31.2% of the AA women remained in the OW-OW category. The percentage tracking (NW-NW and OW-OW) was 72.8% in EA women, 59.6% in AA men, 59.5% in AA women and 48.8% in EA men (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Childhood overweight tracked into young adulthood in this sample and the tracking of NW-NW and OW-OW was the most prominent among the EA women.

Is Double Renal Transplantation a Risk Factor for Cytomegalovirus Disease?

We performed a retrospective study to identify the risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease among 570 renal transplant recipients. By means of a multivariate analysis we identified antilymphocyte antibody therapy (odds ratio [OR]: 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0 to 10.6), high doses of corticosteroids (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.2 to 10.1), and double renal transplant (OR: 4.1; 95% CI: 1.5 to 11.5). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest that in addition to other well-known risk factors for CMV disease (ie, therapy with anti-lymphocyte antibodies or high doses of corticosteroids), the use of double renal transplantation appears to increase the risk of CMV disease in this population.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei: a clinicopathologic analysis and follow-up of 21 patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an uncommon disease characterized by the presence of mucinous peritoneal implants associated with an abdominal neoplasm. Our objective is to consider the characteristics of this entity in our western Mediterranean urban population.

METHODOLOGY

All cases diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei by our hospital during a period of 16 years were reviewed. Data from their clinical records and the biopsy samples were analyzed.

RESULTS

We found 21 cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei with a male/female ratio of 10/11 and a mean age of 59 years. The predominant presentation symptom was abdominal pain (17 cases, 6 of them with acute abdomen). The most frequent primary site of origin of the pseudomyxoma was the appendix (10 cases). The histologic diagnosis was malignant (associated with carcinoma) in 17 cases and indeterminate behavior in 4. The follow-up was available for 15 patients (mean follow-up of 41 months), while six patients have been lost. Nine patients have died during the follow-up and the other 6 patients are still alive after follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparotomy is the main tool for diagnosing pseudomyxoma peritonei. The appendix is the most frequent primary site of origin of pseudomyxoma peritonei, followed by bowel; the latter being more important than previously described. In most cases the histology is malignant. The prognosis is bad with a mortality greater than 60% at 5 years.

Iron metabolism, inflammation and anemia in critically ill patients. A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

For critically patients, enteral immunonutrition results in notable reductions in infections and in length of stay in hospital, but not on mortality, raising the question as to whether this relate to the heterogeneous nature of critically ill patients or to the absence of the altered absorption of specific nutrients within the immunonutrient mix (e.g. iron). Immune-associated functional iron deficiency (FID) is not only one of the many causes or anaemia in the critically ill, but also a cause of inappropriate immune response, leading to a longer duration of episodes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and poor outcome.

OBJECTIVE

This prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of FID in critically ill patients during their stay in intensive care (ICU) in order to find the more appropriate population of patients that can benefit from iron therapy.

METHOD

Full blood cell counts, including reticulocytes (RETIC), serum iron (SI), transferring levels (TRF) and saturation (satTRF), serum TFR receptor (sTfR), ferritin (FRT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in venous blood samples from 131 random patients admitted to the ICU for at least 24 h (Length of ICU stay, LIS; min: 1 day; max: 38 days).

RESULTS

Anaemia (Hb < 12 g/dL) was present in 76% of the patients (Hb < 10 g/dL in 33%), hypoferremia (SI < 45 microg/dl) in 69%; satTRF < 20% in 53%; FRT < 100 ng/mL in 23%; sTfR > 2.3 mg/dL in 13%; and CRP > 0.5 mg/dL in 88%. Statistically significant correlations (r of Pearson; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01) were obtained for serum CRP levels and WBC**, Hb*, TRF**, satTRF*, and FRT**. There was also a strong correlation between TRF and FRT (-0.650**), but not between FRT and satTRF or SI. LIS correlated with Hb*, CRP**, TRF*, satTRF* and FRT**.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU presented the typical functional iron deficiency (FID) of acute inflammation-related anaemia (AIRA). This FID correlates with the inflammatory status and the length of stay at the ICU. However, 21% of the ICU patients with AIRA had an associated real iron deficiency (satTRF < 20; FRT < 100 and sTfR > 2.3). Since oral supplementation of iron seems to be ineffective, all these patients might benefit of iv iron therapy for correction of real or functional iron deficiency, which in turn might help to ameliorate their inflammatory status.